Medical students' and postgraduate residents' observations of professionalism.

Background: There is increasing interest in teaching professionalism to medical learners. The purpose of this study was to explore professionalism observed among medical learners and faculty in a Canadian academic institution.

Methods: A total of 253 medical learners (30% response rate) completed an online survey measuring medical professionalism. The survey used a validated professionalism scale "Climate of Professionalism", which queries subjects' observations of professional and unprofessional behavior in clinical teaching environments.

Results: Overall, 73.3% of medical learners felt prepared in the area of medical professionalism. Differences existed in observed professionalism by level of training. By respondents' reports, both medical students and residents viewed their peer groups as more professional than the other. Both groups also rated faculty as the poorest in terms of observed professional behaviors but the best in observed unprofessional behavior.

Discussion: Most learners in this Canadian medical school felt well prepared in the area of professionalism, and each training level viewed their peer group as the most professional. Peer groups may rate themselves more favorably due to increased interaction with their group, and active recall of professional communications. This study found differences in observations of professionalism by training level, therefore provides support for specialized professionalism education tailored to the learners level of medical training.